^^^^ 





LEAFLETS OF 
MELODY 



rC^J 



By I#C.-/un.vlCa/ 




^ 



r>anLiSHEr> by the 
LIPMAN SUPPLY HOUSE, 

CHICAGO, 1900. 

v.- 



83724 





DEC 4 1900 



No 



SECOND COPY 

Odivwvdto 

ORDER DIVISION 



u 



9.Z I 



COPYRIGHTED BY 
HeLEN CHRrSXll 

Chicago, 1900. 



CONTENTS 

a: 



Birds of Spring 5 

The Country Church 7 

The Ship AT Sea ') 

Falling Leaves 11 

The Old House 13 

Light and Love 17 

The True Artist 20 

Obedience 21 

Perfection 23 

Loss AND Gain 25 

The Dawn 27 

The Three Roses 28 

The Mater Dolorosa 29 

While Death is Approaching 31 

The Holy Poverty of Saint Francis Borgia 33 

The Patience of Christopher Columbus 34 

The Will of God 35 

Penance 36 

Harvest Fields 37 

Youthful Dreams 38 

The Saints 39 

The Sacred Ark 40 

Fair Poesy— 1 41 

Fair Poesy— II 42 

The Close of the Day ' . . 43 

Evening Lights 44 

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From dewy meads the drowsy cattle stray 
Toward barnyard gates, and rattling- far along- 
The homebound wag-on; children leave their play; 
The little thrush too ends its evening song. 



Zbc JSirbs ot Spring. 



"When the bright sun from southern fields, all fair, 

Northward returns with his attendant train 

Of golden banners gleaming- in the air, 

To take possession of his own again; 

Then like a king remembering by chance 

The friends who languish for his countenance, 

He sends before him, gaily carolling 

The sweet voiced birds, the little birds of spring. 



In colors of the rainbow all bedight, 

They perch themselves upon the leafless trees; 

And of the coming summer, warm and bright, 

Pour forth a flood of glorious prophecies. 

The invalid, thanks God, upon his bed 

Of pain, to hear their singing overhead. 

And health and hope and happiness they bring 

The sweet voiced birds, the little birds of spring. 



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When winter threatening turns upon his track 
With blustering winds and blinding sleet, not now 
Shall all his stormy threatenings drive back 
The little birds, or sh^ke them from the bough; 

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With faith unfeig-ned in the mig-hty power 

Which sends them as bright heralds, hour by hour, 

They patient sit, with head beneath the wing. 

And bide their time, the little birds of spring. 

And when at length the days of trial all 
Are ended, and the summer skies are seen; 
W^hen from the boughs the apple blossoms fall. 
And fields are carpeted with living green; 
Then like the spirits of the blest, set free, 
Singing aloud in heavenly harmony, 
So in the fullness of their joy they sing, 
The sweet voiced birds, the little birds of spring. 

As day bj' daj- the golden sun goes round, 
To greet him, these uplift their tuneful lays; 
Still with him goes the chorus of sweet sound. 
And earth is belted with a song of praise. 
Since Eden's loss, man's singing has become 
The sighing of an exile for his home. 
But not in sorrow do the sweet birds sing. 
The sweet voiced birds, the little birds of spring. 



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Xlbe dountr^ Cbutcb 



O'erlooking- fields of summer green 

The small white parish church is seen, 

A pleasant neig-hbor, pointing- still 

To heaven from off its little hill 

And sweetly every Sunday morn 

Calling- across the waving- corn, " Come ! '' 

On quiet country homes around 

Like music falls the solemn sound 

And in their holy-day attire 

The prattling- son and peaceful sire, 

Matron and maid with g-ladness g-o 

To the sfood friend who bids them so " Come 



Within the church-yard cross and stone 

Is firmly planted many a one 

And many a true heart rests beneath. 

But love divine has conquered death 

And mourners to that quiet place 

The church bids, w*th believin ;; g-race, " Come ! 




And still the sun more kindly beams 

On earth; the g-reen earth greener seems 

And life itself even like a psalm 

Moves on that day in happy calm 

When softly through the golden air 

The little church is calling- there "Come ! " 






Zbc Sbip at Sea. 



Alone across the stormy sea 
Of night, a ship is sailing on. 
No star in heaven a guide to be, 
And pathway there is none. 

A thousand miles from either shore, 
Blackness of darkness all around 
Through gloom of night and tempest's roar 
How shall the way be found? 

Surely by drifting never shall 
A ship the promised harbor gain, 
And surely in such darkness, all 
Endeavor is in vain. 

Behold ! upon the binnacle 

A little light is shining clear; 

It lights the compass, showing well 

The helmsman how to steer. 




And thus it is that o'er the tide 

Of surging- wrath she travels on 

In safety', having- this for guide 

When greater lights are gone. — 




The sun, the moon, the stars may go. 
She tires not of the toilsome quest 
And every hour draws nearer to 
The haven of her rest. 



* 



Sail on ! Oh ship ! for thee the curse 
Is lifted from a sea of night, 
The darkness of the universe 
Can not put out one light. 






IfallinG %cavc5. 







A leaden, lowering^, dreary sky 
And through the soniber solitude 
A wailing- voice whose every sigh 
Shakes down the dead leaves in the wood, 
Now day by day with forehead bowed 
We pace the pathway of our fears 
And hear the rustling of the shroud 
Whose shadow Nature's visage wears, 
Poor human heart which still receives 
Sad fancies from the falling leaves. 




n 




But even as one who wanders o'er 
The forest path ma3' find beneath 
A barren bush its hidden store 
Of ripened nuts dropped from the sheath, 
So we who muse within the breath 
Of autumn woods may bring therefrom 
Not heavj' thoughts of darksome death 
But cheerful hope for days to come; 
Remembrance of the golden sheaves 
Flings glory on the falling leaves. 
11 



^ Esi ^ £$1 ^ &^ j?3 Ea^^ &) js3 4\ 



Each year the earth turns to the sun 
Its ripening- fields and laden trees, 
Still proving while the seasons run 
That God fulfills His promises, 
And well it is beholding- these 
For us to know, that not till all 
The fair fruit ripens, is the breeze 
Sent forth to bid the bright leaves fall. 
And gathered are the golden sheaves 
Before we see the falling leaves. 




Above us shines the light of life, 

The earth-born clouds will bring the rain, 

No danger for the harvest, if 

We cover in the perfect grain. 

Toil on therefore in hope, oh! man! 

Toil on! and while the days go by 

Believe in God's unerring plan 

And know that 3'our reward draws nigh 

If earth gives only falling leaves 

In heaven we'll find the golden sheaves. 








XTbe ©ID Ibouse. 



I 

The very sta'^s must fail. All visible thing-s 
Are sing-ing- their own requiem. Great or small 
This is the song- that every singer sings. 
Yea! but before the leaves of autumn fall 
From off the tree, the golden apples shall 
Be gathered in! Virtue! thou fruit divine 
For which the universe was planted; all, 
All that the ages envelope is thine, 
And thou shalt ripen ere the stars decline! 




II 

Not many miles, inland from Boston town, 
There's an old farm-house, which is situated 
Upon a low hill g-ently sloping down 
Toward a quiet roadside. Having- waited 
Vainly for touch renewing, it is mated 
To the old barn and sheds, which stand aside 
And farther back, as if themselves they rated 
Inferior. The front door, high and wide. 
Two high and narrow windows does divide. 



0^ yjv JJ^ Jf» JJf» JJfm yJV Jj^ yjv 



III 

To say the truth, it has in winter time 
A cheerless aspec ; for the surly king- 
Brings want to want, delighting- to begrime 
Dismantled fortune; but when merr\^ Spring- 
Her lively garniture begins to fling- 
From bough to bough, casting- the blossoms round, 
And calling back the little birds to sing; 
Then even this old farm-house may be found 
A pleasant picture on its sunny mound. 

IV 

Its owner still, his own head turning gray, 
Does with his wif contentedly remain 
Beneath its ancient roof. Thanksg-iving Da}' 
Brings to his table, duh% back again, 
Daughters an ! sons; but life is on the wane 
With the stout yeoman, now, and as he nears 
Tlie end of life's long- journey, he is fain 
To pace along- composedly, nor fears 
How he or his to o her eyes appears. 

V 

With what a sense of comfort does he close 
His door at nig-ht, when, gathering- overhead 
Comes the first storm of winter. Well he knows 
His cattle all are warmly housed and fed. 
14 






And nothing more from his kind hand will need 

Until the morning-. In his old arm chair 

Beside the fire, and his newspaper spread 

A map of the world before him, he sits there 

King of the commonwealth, sans count or care. ^* 



VI 
Happy sits he, and while in vain, without. 
Against the door the rough wind loudly knocks. 
Pausing to wipe his specs, he thinks about 
The wet winds driving the wild fowl in flocks, 
Down by the sea among Cohasset rocks. 
In stormy autumns of the long ago. 
His good wife knits his warm gray woolen socks; &^ 

Their little grandchild pets her kitten, so, 
Thai in her lap it lies, there, purring low. 



VII 
Now what care they, although the winds are howling 
O'er Baldpate hill, and down the Boston road? 
Shrieking round barren rocks, or I0WI3- growling 
Through hollows in the wood? On them bestowed 
Deepening contentment in their poor abode, 
As the black cloud, o'erspreading like a pall. 
Against the lighted window panes, its load 
Of freezing raindrops wrathfully lets fall. 
Dark storm without; within, peace over all. 
15 



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VIII 

Bring- forth: Oh! summer eve, with balmy airs, 

The beauteous moon and constellations brig-ht! 

But nothing- in the starry sky compares 

With the sweet light of home! Surely at nig-ht 

It is a fairer, more heart cheering sight 

Than the high host, to one, who, wearily 

Comes toward it, as a ship comes toward the light 

Of a safe harbor from a stormy sea. 

Shine on! sweet light of home, till heaven's light 

[darkens theet 



a: 



JJ^ a^JV a^ Jf» JJ^ «^ «^ Jf» j^ 



At the close of yesterday 

The moon's pale crescent lay 
In the west slow sinking- with a strang-e half light; 

Lfike a candle dying- out 

In a sick man's room, about 
The watcher bring-ing wierd shapes of the nig-ht. 



^ 



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♦ 
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Short while ago 'twas seen > ^tj » 

Full orbed, in heaven serene, 
Filling- with brig-htness all the fields beneath; 

Waxing- and waning- so 

Still with us does it g-o. 
Yet never finds the full eclipse of death. 



Inconstant moon! thou art 

I^ike Eva's chang-eful heart! 
There is " a Woman clothed with the Sun„ 

The moon beneath her feet." 

In Mary, mother sweet. 
The New Day of salvation is beg-un. 
17 




In her the brooding- Dove 

Of everlasting- love; 
His light surrounds her, and in her fair features 

Kven one who runs, may read 

God's law; she is indeed 
" The humblest and the highest of all creatures.' 

In her, from Love divine 

For us all mercies shine. 
Who walks with Mary in humility 

Shall find the Lord our God; 

His Mother knows the road 
To Him, and His, wherever that may be. 

Throug-h those by Mary taught 
God's will shall be outwrought, 

In word and deed; they'll g-ain the g-reat reward 
Promised to those who are 
Found faithful. Shine, Oh! Star 

Of holy hope, and lead us to our Lord. 

Lead us within the way 

Of everlasting- day, 
To Him whose mercy out of nothing-ness, 

Created us, to give 

Himself to us. We live 
Oh! Love, in Thine own infinite excess! 
18 



Oh! Sacred Heart of Love! 

Thou kindlest from above 
Our earthly hearts with Thj^ celestial fire, 

And all sweet thoughts upspring- 

Within us, and forth wing- 
In g-Qod deeds which accomplish God's desire. 



Thou art Thyself the Power 
Which perfects. Every hour 

Spent out of Thee by us is spent in vain; 
But every seed we sow 
Within Thy lig-ht, shall grow 

And ripened be, for our eternal gain. 



^ 




Ube Xlrue Brtist. 



As artists like to see 

In natural scenery 
A bit of water shining- bright and blue, 

So in some corner of 

The neig-hborhood, Saints love 
To find always the parish church in view. 

Where strenghtening- their souls 

The organ music roils; 
A torrent of harmonious trumpeting-s; 

And a melodious voice 

Making- the heavens rejoice 
" Ave Maria, g-racia plena," sings. 

And where the altar light 

Is burning day and night; 
They liv^e laborious lives of peace and prayer. 

And many a humble man 

Works out the heavenly plan 
To a completion most divinely fair. 
20 



©beMence. 



A perfect work of art 

From the creating" heart 
Comes forth self poised, and like the morning" star 

G-oes gaily sing-ing- on 

Its radiant way. The dawn 
Of heaven's fair day it heralds from afar. ^ 




So Dante's g"lorious rhyine 
Goes traveling" through time 
Toward the reg"ions of eternity; 
Discoursing" while it goes 
Of everlasting- woes 
And joys above, which shall unending" be. 



The stars are g"iving" lig"ht 

In their watches throug"h the nig"ht; 
Called, were they, and they answered, "Here we are," 

To Him who made them; and 

With cheerfulness, each band 
Shines forth in fair obedience near -and far. 
21 



Oh that we niig-ht receive 

God's grace, no more to grieve 
His Spirit with our wayward wandering-s; 

But the one thing- needful do! 

The end God has in view 
For us, decides the value of all things. 




>«/^ 
^n^ 



perfection. 



What dost thou wish to see? 

Perfection? God gave thee 
Thyself to perfect; look to thine own soul; 

For this is the domain 

O'er which as sovereig^n 
Thou rulest now with absolute control. 



If thou shouldst with much pain 
For slaves their freedom gain, 

Or out of poverty uplift the poor; 
Until from every side 
Came blessings, like a tide. 

Uplifting thee at length to heaven's door; 



M 



What then? if thou hadst left 

Thine own soul all bereft 
Of discipline? What then if thou shouldst stand 

Before God's throne at last 

And see when time is past 
In thine own soul a wild and barren land? 
23 



m 




Into the peace of God 

There is but one safe road; 
Fair Paradise is found throug-h Purg-ator3\ 

This way the journey lies 

^nd every one must rise 
Throug-h cleansing- pain to the eternal glory. 

Can any one prevent 

The secret prayer sent 
By a soul in ang-uish to the Lord of Life? 

Or intercept the flow 

Of heavenly mercy, so 
That strength shall not be g^iven for the strife? 

God gives to every soul 

Seeking- the heavenly goal, 
Some little clue by which to find the way; 

Some little winding thread 

Which followed out, will lead 
The patient heart into the perfect day. 

Oh I perfect 6a.yl wherein 

Shall be no shade of sin! 
Nor g-loomy cloud of evil threatenings! 

But peace without alloy 

And the melodious joy 
Which in a heart at rest forever spring-s. 
24 



%065 an^ Gain. 



When we beneath some cross 

Of our own choosing-, loss 
Of strength find, and at leng-th fall wearily 

Tripped by some little chance 

Of adverse circumstance 
Which in the narrow path lay waiting- nigh. 

Then in our wretched state 

Made more disconsolate 
By the dark doubts which come from satan's power, 

Like heavy stones out thrown 

To crush us, there, alone. 
And keep our lives disabled from that hour. 



We doubt the choice we made, 
We doubt our doubt, and stayed 

Betwixt our doubts, remain in fixed surprise; 
Or wander to and fro 
L/ike hopeless spirits throug-h 

" The air of Hades tremulous with sig-hs." 
25 



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4* 



Yet this one thing- is clear 

Thus far; it is not fear, 
But faith, that works the work of righteousness; 

Not fear, but faith and love 

Which shall the mountains move 
And build on them the bastions of success. 

Lord Jesus, from Thy cross 

Teach us, at length, that loss 
Of earthh' joy may be eternal gain; 

Lift us forever out 

Of life destroying doubt, 
And prove to us the profit of sharp pain. 



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Hh H^' Hfc^ Ht*' Hh •^ Hi^ rlh i\<^ 

«^ J^ 4^ Jf» a^ «^ J]^ Jl^ 2^ 

Zbc Bawn. "^ 

— * 



Into the darkness came 

A tong-ue of living flame; 
It grew in glory as it multiplied 

Itself upon the earth; 

Which wakened with the mirth 
Of choirs celestial at the Christmas tide. 

And the New Day was born I 

Let wanderers forlorn 
Amid the shadows, turn their faces to 

The Promise of the dawn. 

The gloom}^ night is gone 
And the old Eden blossoms in the New. 



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QKt J^ Jf» yfi» ^* ^* ^» Jf» Jf» 

y Ube Ubree IRoses. 

* 



Three roses blooming- there, 

Within the chapel fair; 
A red rose at Christ's altar rich and sweet, 

A yellow one, at sure 

Saint Joseph's, and a pure 
White rose of fragrance at the Virgin's feet. 



It stands, a snowy bloom 

Of delicate perfume. 
Before the image of the blessed Maid; 

Discoursing, beauteously. 

Of heavenly purity. 
And love which lives, and blossoms in the shade. 



So among faithful lands, 
Erin mavourneen, stands; 

The one white rose of charity divine! 

And the darkness of earth's night, 
Seems less dark, where the bright. 

And sacred blossoms of her virtue shine. 
28 



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Ube /iDater H)olorosa. 



Following the Holy Cross 4^» 

She goes toward the loss 
And full eclipse of all her earthly joy; 

But clothed from head to feet 

With blessedness complete, 
She knows that our deliverance draws nigh. 



She goes, the way made straight 

For her, by cruel hate. 
Into the darkness of Christ's death forlorn; 

And then with look intent 

Fixed on the Orient, 
Awaits for us. His resurrection morn. 



Ivike a fair morn, the grace 

Of the uplifted face, 
Touched by the light of glory from above 

And in the sorrowing eyes 

Beneath the shadow, lies. 
The heart gleam of an everlasting love. 
29 



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OhI little one! storm tossed 

And tempted, but not lost! 
Fulfilled shall be God's promise to thy youth 

And those who hate thee, through 

Their hate of Christ, shall view 
His triumph, and shall learn God's Ivove is Truth. 




Think they, indeed, True Ivove 
To conquer. They shall prove 
p Themselves the conquered, IvOve the conqueror 

For as their King- He shall 
Returning, unto all 
Reveal Himself, and reign for evermore. 

In vain the closing stone; 

In vain the seal thereon; 
In vain the guards placed at the sepulchre; 

Not dead, but robed bright 

In everliving light. 
Thy Son of Justice shall again appear. 

Then faithful one thy worth 
Shall be made know to earth; 

Thy children's children in the east and west 
Shall keep thy holy days 
With thanks giving and praise 

And call thee as thou art, forever blessed. 




XKHbile H)eatb is Bpproacbing 



When the worst conieth 
Death will relieve thee, 
Therefore despair not 
Nor rush Into evil. 
Let hate not embitter 
Nor passion persuade thee, 
Keep holy and peaceful 
While death is approaching-. 




Like the crackling- of thorns is 
The laug-hter of folly. 
And lovers of wisdom 
Join not in the chorus. 
But steady and truthful 
In speech and in action 
Their clear eyes look forward 
While death is approaching-. 



31 




The knowledg-e of death is 
To spirits ung-uided, 
The gadfly which urg^es 
To swifter destruction ; 
But thou, in God's comfort, 
Walk forward and fear not, 
Unhasting-, unresting-, 
While death i& approaching-. 



And Oh! soul remember 
That thou shalt pass this way 
But once, and should therefore 
Do g-ood as thou g-oest; 
A white sheet of paper 
Each day is, and on it 
We write for God's reading- 
While death is approaching-. 



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32 







TLbc 1bolp popertp ot Saint jfrancis 
Borota. 



When Francis Borgia, Duke of Gandia, had 

Disrobed himself of his estates, and made 

Himself of no account to them who look 

Only upon the binding- of the book; 

One day at dinner, being placed beside 

A lady of the court, clothed in her pride, 

She unto him said somewhat pityingly' 

" Francis, your case were hard, if it should be 

That after such a sad exchange as this 

You should likewise, the joy of heaven miss." 

"My case were hard, indeed, the Saint replied, 

If heaven were, at length, to me denied. 

But as for the exchange, my friend believe 

From it already I great gain receive ! " 




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^oVo^ 



TLbc patience ot Cbristopber 
Columbus. 



Not for the empty breath of earthl}' fame, 
But g-uided by the Spirit from above, 
Across the stormy sea Columbus came. 
To plant the faith whose fruitage is fair love. 
Through long-, long years, he felt the chastening rod 
' Jvi But in the lonely night-watch on the deck 



This man renewed his convenant with God, 
And saved his soul from everlasting wreck. 
Oh I you faint hearted ones, who find despair 
Embittering every crust you eat, and see 
The spacious universe grow black and bare 
Because of your own hopeless misery; 
Learn of this man, and in life's darkest hour 
Hold fast to GodI In patience is great power. 






'H 



°-S ^S'^S "-^S'-^^ ^cSiJ% :^ 



Ube XKHill ot (5oD. 



# 



It is God's will that we should forward go 

With faithful heart, and ever willing- feet 

Through each daj'-'s labor, well content although 

From earth's unrighteousness we fail to meet 

A single word of commendation sweet. 

Who saves his life shall lose it, and who gives 

His life to God shall gain it so; complete \j\ ' 

God keeps for us what from us he receives. 

*' Let him take up his cross and follow me." 

Hark the clear bugle, echos backward thrown! 

This is the keynote of the melody 

Which leads the shining host to I^ife's fair zone, 

Take up the Cross my soul, and forward go 

Not with vain haste nor yet with foostep slow. 



a: 



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Oh Christ, my lyord! draw not thy Cross away 

Lest losing- it, I also mig-ht lose Thee; 

Yea I let it rest upon me that I may 

Bring- forth the fruit Thou hast desired of me. 

Oh ! Thou, who didst toil up steep Calvary 

Beneath the awful burden of our woe 

To g-ain the glorious recompense, now be 

Thy holy will within me as I go. 

Inform my mind that I maj^ see the road; 

Strengthen my heart until the end it wins; 

Upon my shoulders lay the heavy load 

Of needful expiation for m^' sins; 

And let me, in each hour of trial, prove, 

The strong salvation of Almighty Love! 



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Ibarvest jFielOs. 



m 



See how fair Nature, servant of our God, 
Still patiently outspreads year after year 
The living likeness on earth's naked clod 
Of that which is, and was, and shall appear. 
Yea! first shall come the blade, and then the ear 
And then the g-olden harvest; all complete 
Once more for us, dear friends, the symbol here 
Of life's great end is shining at our feet. 
Oh! fair fulfillment of the promises! 
Oh! radiant beauty of the Saints, to come. 
Oh! grand completion and true happiness 
Most surely ripening for God's harvest home! 
Shine on, bright Sun of Justice, until we 
Who once were darkness become light in Thee. 



37 




l^outbtul Breams. 



Ill the sweet summers of our youthful prime 

There is no toil no anguish. Far on high 

The snowy clouds are floating; and the chime 

Of Nature's harmonies, forever nigh, 

Seems a grand choral hymn of strength and joy. 

Oh! the long line of glory, which appears 

Our pathway to Klysium ! High employ, 

And holy triumphs of those coming years! 

Through the long summer noontide, in the shade 

And tlie sweet breath of ever-sighing pines, 

We drink the draught by fairy Fancy made. 

Which in the golden cup of promise shines. 

Fair dreams of youth! they fade like flowers of May, 

But God will have His own bright Harvest Day. 



^.-. 
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TLbc Saints. 



Our faith declares that Christ within His Saints 

Still dwells among- us. True life is begun 

Not by the haughty spirit which o'er paints 

Itself with praise, but by the work well done. 

Seeking the prize that is by patience won, 

The Saints pace on in the appointed way, 

From morn till even; like the summer sun, 

Sinking at last with undiminished ray 

They live by faith, and since a thousand years 

Are as a day within the sight of God, 

They hinder not His work with hastening fears 

But do their own part well. Ivife's heavy load 

Of care, they carry patiently, and death 

To them is g"ain, as the apostle saith. 



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Ubc Sacred Brft. 



The Ark of the Covenant from land to land 
Is carried on. It was a cloud which showed 
The path by daA% but in the night God's hand 
Of guidance, like a fiery pillar, glowed. 
All hail! again, ye faithful ones, who trod 
Fainting and footsore through the wilderness 
Of this rough world, appointed by your God 
To lead His people onward to success. 
Beloved and honored may your names abide 
And green your graves forever, east and west 
Gemming the earth like jewels; ye were tried 
By the Great Burden, and endured the test. 
O starry souls to your high heaven gone, 
Still gladdened be, the Sacred Ark moves on. 



:x 



40 



ffait ipoes^. 



Whether with Celtic music in the hush 

Of a green valley, sing^ing- like a thrush; 

Or like a star, in the Italian chime. 

Moving- melodiously throug-h realms of time; 

Fair Poesy is not the wild bird's song-. 

Nor "alleluia" of the happy throng-. 

But in her measures mysticalh^ meet 

The song- angelic, and the bird-note sweet. 

Born of the earthly', but through power divine, 

Rising- from thing-s imperfect. Song- shall be 

Made perfect, by the Sun whose g-lories shine 

Throug-h all the reg-ions of eternity. 

Eternal Truth, True Love, dying- to give 

Undying- life. In His life. Song shall live. 



J 



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A. 



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ffatr iPoesi^. 



II 



A something- of the silvery star on hig^h, 

Toward which the joyous lark upsoaring- sing's; 

And something- of the dewy blossom by, 

The lowly nest wherein he folds his wing-s. 

A sweet similitude of all sweet thing-s; 

May morning's, with green meadows; autumn eves, 

Fair eves of autumn, when the full moon fling's 

Her mellow light upon the golden sheaves. 

The music of an organ, through the air 

Rising and fallit:g in rich harmonies. 

As the musician wrapped from earthly care, 

Sits in the twilight bending o'er they keys; 

And a fair radiance, shining far within, 

Leads through the darkness to the Life Divine. 






42 



Ube Close ot tbe Da^. 



Now o'er the world the star crowned summer Eve 

Is slowly moving" in her robes of g"ray; 

Giving- with g-entle grace, a kind reprieve, 

To all the weary toilers of the day. 

From dewy meads the drowsy cattle stray 

Toward barnyard grates, and rattling far along 

The home-bound wag^on; children leave their play; 

The little thrush too ends its evening- song. 

For me likewise the summer day is closed. 

The record written, every act made known, 

Good against evil righteously opposed. 

And sentence waiting at the great white throne. 

Oh! may that record true, at length make plain. 

That Jesus Christ for me died not in vain ! 



X\ 



M 



:x 



43 




JEvciWQ Xigbts. 



When joj'ous Summer journeys on his wa^-, 
And Autumn calm beneath her skies serene, 
Ripens the golden fruit, which day by day, 
From bending boughs is safely gathered; then 
The landscape changes; from the hill and glen 
The beauty fades, the music fails; and Lo! 
A chilly snow-drift comes to shroud the scene, 
And wintry winds are wailing to and fro. 
Such also is man's life, and thus its seasons go. 

Spring, summer, autumn, winter; thus they come 

And pass away; but as when fields are white 

With winter's icy shroud, each happy home 

Holds in its midst the hearth-fire, warm and bright, 

Still making there a summer of delight; 

So when old age comes on, hope's heavenh' beam 

Shining more clear as darker grows the night. 

Comforts kind hearts, until God gives to them 

The beauteous New Day in the New Jerusalem. 



L«rc. 



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